First glimpse of the full 2012 spec Audi R18 e-tron and ultra

By Johan Laubscher

The first photos of the full 2012 specification Audi R18 race car models have surfaced on the internet. The new R18 e-tron quattro and the R18 ultra. A week ahead of the debut of the two new cars and fans are now able to see them in detail. There are clear visual changes to the cars. Most notably the new front headlights, various aerodynamic and small layout changes. The cars will debut next weekend at Spa, round two of the FIA World Endurance Championship.

The cars look awesome and we cannot wait to see them at Spa and then onwards to Le Mans.

The photo are by the official Audi Sport press

More Information:

The official Audi Sport Facebook page

"24 Hours of Audi" : Shakedown great coverage to Audi tests at Sebring

By Tarek Ramchani

Audi won the 60th 12 Hours of Sebring, a great 1-2 victory with the "old" Audi R18 TDI. Right after the endurance classic, Audi Sport Team Joest spent some times testing their new weapons. The Audi R18 e-tron quattro and the Audi R18 ultra. New LMP1 challengers for both Le Mans 24 Hours and the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Shakedown was there too, and they did a great coverage for these private Audi tests. including interviews with Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich head of Audi Motorsport. Allan McNish the 2012 Sebring 12 hour overall winner and Ulrich Baretsky  head of engine development at Audi Sport. A brilliant report worth to watch, waiting the two cars debut at the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, round 2 of WEC.

Dr. Wolfgang Ullrich talks to AudiWorld.com about Audi new R18 e-tron quattro an R18 Ultra

AudiWorld.com interviewd Dr. Worlfgang Ullrich at Sebring. The head of Audi Motorsport talking about new technologies and the brand new challengers for Le Mans and FIA World Endurance Championship, the Audi R18 e-tron quattro and the Audi R18 ultra. Have a look.

Audi 1-2 Victory: 12 Hours of Sebring 2012 Race Highlights

By Tarek Ramchani

Audi got a nice 1-2 victory at the 60th edition of the 12 Hours of Sebring. That was the 10th overall win for the Audi brand in Florida's classic. The #2 Audi R18 TDI crossing the finish line victorious with drivers Allan McNish, Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen. In second the sister #2 and drivers Timo Bernhard, Romain Dumas and Loic Duval. Highlights of Sebring event, the first race ever of the brand new FIA World Endurance Championship.

Audi Wins the 12 Hours of Sebring 2012

By Tarek Ramchani

Audi has just clinched its tenth outright victory at Sebring. A great 1-2 win for Audi Sport Team Joest at the 60th edition of the Florida classic. 

The winning car is the #2 Audi R18 TDI with drivers Allan McNish, Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen. In a strong second place was the sister #3 Audi driven by Loic Duval, Romain Dumas and Timo Bernhard. Bad luck for the #1 Audi which faced problems earlier in the race while it leading outright. The car finished in 6th place in LMP1 class and was shared by 2011 Le Mans winners Marcel Fassler, Andre Lotterer and Benoit Treluyer.

Audi Sport Team Joest entered the Sebring event with last year’s specification Audi R18 TDI and the cars raced with an extra +15kgs weight penalty. Audi faced a very big field with a +60 car grid from both WEC regulars and ALMS teams. The race saw too many crashes and full course cautions, making it very hard for the Audis in the traffic. Opposition only came from the privateer HPD Honda teams. Despite the opposition the Audi cars were dominant during the whole race. The #2 Audi R18 and the sister #3 car switched positions for the overall lead during every pit stop. In the end it was the #2 car crossing the finish line victorious, and the #3 car in second with 4 laps down. The # 44 HPD ARX-03b of team Starworks Motorsport got third overall winning the LMP2 class.

This is the sixth outright victory for Mr. Le Mans Tom Kristensen, the fifth for Dindo Capello and the fourth for Allan McNish. The "Old Warriors" have already won the 12 Hours of Sebring together twice before, in 2006 with the Audi R10 TDI and in 2009 with the Audi R15 TDI.

This Sebring victory is the first for Audi Sport Team Joest since the year 2009. A historical victory as well, being the first ever race of the brand new FIA World Endurance Championship. The next round of the WEC will be the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, where the brand new Audi e-tron quattro will debut.

12 Hours of Sebring 2012 podium : Audi Sport Team Joest 1-2 victory

Start of the 12 Hours of Sebring 2012

#3 Audi R18 TDI into the night at Sebring

McNish Hungry For Sebring Success To Bag Valuable World Championship Points

From www.allanmcnish.com

“Flying Scotsman” aims for a fourth Sebring 12 Hour race win

Allan McNish bids to get his FIA World Endurance Championship aspirations off to a flying start in Florida on Saturday (17 Mar). The Scotsman competes in the Sebring 12 Hours sharing his diesel-powered “works” Audi R18 TDI with Tom Kristensen (Denmark) and Dindo Capello (Italy). McNish, a winner of the Sebring race on three previous occasions, will contest the entire eight-race WEC with the Dumfries-born ace focussed on winning the world “crown”. 

"My aim this year is to win the Driver's World [Endurance] Championship and help Audi claim the Manufacturer's title,” confessed McNish. 

“I contested the 2002 FIA World Formula One Championship but the only World title I've ever previously been in real contention for was the 1985 Junior World Karting title when I ultimately finished third – one place behind Michael Schumacher.

"I've won the Le Mans 24 Hours twice and the American Le Mans Series title three times but to win the World title would be the icing on the cake in my 30-year motor racing career."

Audi Sport enters three 2011-specification R18 TDI sports-prototypes in North America’s oldest sportscar race with McNish switching to a hybrid-diesel Audi R18 e-tron quattro for the next WEC races at Spa in Belgium (May 5) and the Le Mans 24 Hours in June.

Allan added: “It will be the first time we have raced the R18 TDI at Sebring which is a little bizarre as we’ve been racing it since last May. 

“The track, climate and intensity of the race are all very good tests for the car, team and a driver. Audi Sport has used it [Sebring] each year, bar one, since its début in endurance sportscar racing [1999] as an important part of our preparation for Le Mans and not just for car reliability, speed and performance.

“It’s used for the way that we work as a team – drivers, engineers and mechanics. A big ‘heavy’ race at the very beginning of the year gets you into the system and an early feel for everything.”

The bumpy, fast 3.7-mile, 17-corner Florida track is not only a stern test for man and machine but features a unique atmosphere attracting a huge crowd. 

“I have always enjoyed racing against this ‘circuit’ as well as the fierce competition,” continued McNish. “I raced in the 12 hours at Sebring for the first time in 2000 and this year’s race marks my ninth and is always fast, aggressive and intense often run in hot and humid weather conditions.

“Normally there are over 150,000 fans gathered around the track over the four days of the event. Many camp out for the entire event with some having been at the circuit to get the best available vantage point in their motorhomes and camper vans since the turn of the New Year.

“Additionally there is the incredible history surrounding this race first run in 1952. Derek Bell, Juan Fangio, Mike Hawthorn, Jacky Ickx and Stirling Moss are previous winners with Audi chasing Ferrari and Porsche in terms of overall wins. 

“This year’s race has an extra special incentive for Audi and me as a driver as it’s the opening round of the new FIA World Endurance Sportscar Championship.

“Audi Sport and its drivers have wanted a World Championship to aim at for a long time. It will be a cracking start to the season.

“As an Audi Sport driver, I go to every race with a very good chance of success – Audi and I don’t head to races to finish second. Unfortunately one of our biggest rivals, Peugeot, has pulled out of sportscar racing but Toyota has now joined in.

“I drove for the Japanese manufacturer in Formula One and so know only too well that one of the biggest car companies in the world has now joined us in the WEC. They [Toyota] will not be at Sebring because it is too early in their programme but there will be at least two HPD [Honda] cars in the field.

“And those suggesting that Audi is set to run away with Sebring now that Peugeot has gone should remember that an HPD finished second first time out in last year’s corresponding Sebring race – half a minute behind the winner – with minimal testing which was a stunning performance.

“I am very cautious about making predictions. Knowing this race and taking into account the speed we have had in previous races at Sebring and not won combined with the speed of our competition – it’s going to be tough this year especially as we will be penalised with a 15kg weight penalty due to us running our R18 TDI in 2011 spec.”

McNish raced regularly in the American Le Mans Series in 2000, ’06 & ’07, winning the driver’s title on each occasion, and the Scot has fond memories of the North American-based series. 

Allan added: “I always thoroughly enjoy racing in America but unfortunately Sebring is the only U.S. race on the WEC calendar. I’ve won three American Le Mans Series titles and have had a lot of fun and enjoyment Stateside. 

“The American market is massive for Audi. We’ve been racing diesel sportscars there since 2006 – three years before Audi of America started importing diesel engined road cars. North America is now the third biggest market in the world for Audi. It’s a big player and I think it’s got real significance for both me as a driver, Audi Sport and also for Audi as a car company in what we’ve done to ‘showcase’ TDI technology on racetracks over there”.

Practice is staged on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday with qualifying for the anticipated 60-car plus entry on Friday (8.10pm UK time). The 60^th Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring Fuelled by Fresh From Florida race begins at 2.30pm UK time on Saturday.

More about Allan McNish here:

Allan McNish official website

Allan McNish official Facebook page

Allan McNish official Twitter

 

A new era begins for Audi at Sebring

Audi Press Release :

• Premiere of the FIA World Endurance Championship WEC
• Le Mans winning Audi R18 TDI modified for season opener
• First run for new signing Loïc Duval

The 12-hour race at Sebring (U.S. state of Florida) on March 17 is shaped by major developments. For Audi, the new FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) is ringing in a completely new era. The brand with the four rings last won a world championship title in 1984 – then in rallying. At the same time, Audi has the chance of clinching its tenth overall victory on the 60th anniversary of the classic endurance race.

Audi is starting into its most important sports car season so far. For the first time, the brand with the four rings will be battling to clinch a world champion’s title in road course racing. Audi has been successfully competing in sports car races since 1999 and has won many series, including the American Le Mans Series on nine occasions. This year, for the first time since 1992, the FIA is again awarding a world champion’s title for Le Mans prototypes, the race cars that currently feature the most sophisticated technology of all.

The technical development at Audi Sport in Ingolstadt and Neckarsulm is running at full stretch. No less than three different versions of the R18 LMP1 race car will be fielded during the course of the season. The Audi R18 e-tron quattro and Audi R18 ultra cars unveiled at the end of February are currently subjected to an extensive testing program and will be making their racing debut at Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium) at the beginning of May. At the world championship season opener at Sebring, Audi Sport Team Joest will rely once more on the R18 TDI that was victorious at Le Mans last year.

Effective immediately, new rules will reduce the engine output of the diesel-powered vehicles by around seven percent. To achieve this, the size of the air restrictors will be reduced from a diameter of 47.4 to 45.8 millimeters. The charging pressure drops from 3,000 to 2,800 millibar. The fuel tank capacity has been reduced as well. At a pit stop, the Audi R18 TDI can be filled with a maximum of 60 instead of the previous 65 liters of diesel fuel. In addition, it has to take 15 kilograms of ballast on board. The ballast compensates for the fact that the complex aerodynamic modifications of the fenders, which are prescribed as of 2012, have not been implemented on the R18 TDI but will only be made on the successor cars. Surprising but true: On its farewell, the R18 TDI will be experiencing a premiere as the closed-wheel sports car has never before competed in a 12-hour race at Sebring. The engineers, though, can draw on valuable historical data gathered with the Audi R18 TDI on many kilometers of testing on the famous race track in Florida. 

Acid test for “man and machine”

The challenging 12-hour classic on the old airfield complex at Sebring stands for a notorious acid test at the season opener. The bumpy track consisting of tarmac and concrete slabs is rough on the race cars and the drivers’ physical condition. Sweltering heat was often another challenge in the past. Plus, being a 12-hour race, the competition in Florida is the second-longest one on the 2012 WEC calendar. With currently 61 entries – 31 from the American Le Mans Series and 30 from the WEC – the race will demand maximum concentration. Heavy traffic on a track that is slightly less than six kilometers long harbors the risk of body contact and accidents while lapping. For Audi, the 60th running of the race marks an anniversary as well. For the tenth time since 2000 a race car emblazoned with the four rings will have the chance of clinching victory. On achieving its ninth success in 2009 with Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish, Audi set a distance record that has remained unbeaten to date. The trio covered 2,280.5 kilometers in the Audi R15 TDI back then.

Several premieres in the driver line-up

Whereas Audi Sport Team Joest fielded two cars at each of the past runs at Sebring, the squad is now putting three R18 TDI vehicles on the grid. Car number “1” is shared by Marcel Fässler/André Lotterer/Benoît Tréluyer (CH/D/F), with each of the three Le Mans winners from last year experiencing a Sebring premiere. Fässler has never before started from the Sebring grid in a sports prototype. André Lotterer and Benoît Tréluyer have never raced at Sebring before at all but know the track from tests. Car number “2” is shared by Dindo Capello/Tom Kristensen/Allan McNish (I/DK/GB). Kristensen, with five victories under his belt, is the record holder, Capello has won the endurance race four times, and McNish three times. Car number “3” will be driven by Timo Bernhard (D) and Romain Dumas (F), who jointly mounted the winners’ podium as early as in 2008. They will be sharing their R18 TDI with Audi’s new signing Loïc Duval (F). The Frenchman is bringing a fitting “inaugural gift” to the squad. He was celebrated as a winner at the 12-hour race at Sebring last year. The nine drivers combined thus boast as many as 15 individual Sebring successes. 

Topics of the weekend

- Will the diesel-powered vehicles still be competitive with the new rules?

- What will be the impact of the 15 kilograms of weight handicap on the cars with last year’s specifications like the Audi R18 TDI have to compete with at Sebring?

- Who will be Audi’s strongest challenger at Sebring?

The Audi R18 e-tron quattro Launch Trailer - One of the greatest videos

By Johan Laubscher

Audi Sport have always been known for producing some exceptional video material. Today, Monday the  third of March 2012 was no exception. The latest promotional video from Audi Sport was published today, and oh what a video.

Focusing on the return of quattro to the race tracks this video entitled “Audi R18 e-tron quattro Launch Trailer” encompasses just over two minutes of Audi and more specifically “quattro’s” motorsport heritage. The combination of brilliant video clip choices combined with supreme editing and music results in a video that will get any petrol head’s heart pumping. Hearing the breathtaking sound of the legendary five cylinder turbo rally cars and the dominant Le Mans prototypes is enough to send shivers down your spine. For Audi fans this is a jaw dropping, knock me over video and one that makes the wait until June seem even longer. If this video does not get your blood pumping, then there is an empty cavity where your heart should be.

Watch the trailer here:

*Cover photo is a still taken from the video

Audi R18 e-tron quattro full set of official videos

All the official videos of the brand new Audi R18 e-tron quattro for Le Mans 24 Hours and the FIA World Endurance Championship.

Audi with two R18 e-tron quattro and two R18 ultra at Le Mans

 
By Tarek Ramchani

Audi Sport will field four cars at the 80th running of the Le Mans 24 Hours. Four cars utilising two different technologies and twelve drivers. This is only the second time since 1999 that Audi will compete at Le Mans with four full factory cars.

The big news for the Audi Le Mans sportscar program is the brand new Audi R18 e-tron quattro. The Hybrid powered closed cockpit prototype is based on the 2011 Le Mans winning R18. This marks the comeback of the legendary "quattro" in factory racing at Audi. Quattro AWD has a strong winning legacy in motorsport: World Rally Chamionship (Group , the IMSA GTO series, the SCCA Trans-Am, the DTM and Super Touring racing. Two R18 e-tron quattro cars will be fielded at Le Mans and only one will do the full FIA World Endurance Championship. All six drivers of the two new cars are familiar faces. For Le Mans the driver line-up will be:

#1 Audi R18 e-tron quattro: Marcel Fässler (CH), André Lotterer (D) and Benoît Tréluyer (F)

# 2 Audi R18 e-tron quattro: Dindo Capello (I), Tom Kristensen (DK) and Allan McNish (GB)

In support of the two R18 e-tron quattro cars, Audi will field two TDI powered prototypes. The Audi R18 ultra is the new name of the 2011 winning car, the R18 TDI. After Le Mans a single R18 ultra will compete in the FIA World Endurance Championship. The R18 ultra will have three new drivers at Audi for Le Mans. Loic Duval from France raced with the privateer ORECA team the last two years, very fast with the Peugeot 908 HDI FAP. Marco Bonanomi from Italy, factory test driver since last year and Italian GT champion with Audi Sport Italia. Oliver Jarvis from Britain who raced at Le Mans 2010 in a customer R10 TDI (Team Kolles) and raced in the German DTM series since 2008. The other three drivers are the 2010 overall winners. The R18 ultra driver line-ups at La Sarthe will be:

#3 Audi R18 ultra : Timo Bernhard (D), Romain Dumas (F)and Loïc Duval (F)
#4 Audi R18 ultra : Marco Bonanomi (I), Oliver Jarvis (GB) and Mike Rockenfeller (D)

The 12 Hours of Sebring is the season opener for the brand new FIA World Endurance Championship. Audi Sport will enter three R18 ultra cars. The Audi R18 e-tron quattro will make its race debut at round 2, the 6 Hours of Spa-Francorchamps, where Toyota Racing is set to debut its TS030 Hybrid as well.

Quattro is back in world class racing. Two different technologies and four cars in hands of team Joest Racing. Twelve strong drivers who are among the bests in sports car racing. Audi is without any doubts the big favourite for Le Mans and the new FIA World Endurance Championship.

Audi with three R18 TDI at the 12 Hours of Sebring

By Tarek Ramchani

The 12 Hours of Sebring are fast approaching. The season opener for the brand new FIA World Endurance Championship. Sebring will kick off the American Le Mans Series season as well and Audi will be there with no less than three R18 TDI cars.


2012 will mark the 60th edition of the world famous 12 Hours of Sebring. Audi has already won Florida's big classic nine times overall between the years 2000 and 2009. It’s been three years now since the last victory, 2009 with the Audi R15 TDI. This year Audi is fielding three cars at Sebring, all of them TDI powered R18 cars. The brand new Audi R18 using hybrid technology will only have its race debut at the 6 Hours of Spa (round 2 of FIA WEC). All the cars will be under Audi Sport Team Joest banner. This will mark the first time since 2000 that Audi is racing three full factory cars at Sebring. Eleven of the twelve drivers for the 12 hours enduro have been confirmed.

#1 Audi R18 TDI, will be shared by the 2011 Le Mans winners Andre Lotterer, Marcel Fassler and Benoit Trelueyr. The trio have never raced at Sebring for Audi.

#2 Audi R18 TDI for the old warriors: Allan McNish, Dindo Capello and Tom Kristensen. Mr. Le Mans Tom Kristensen could be named Mr. Sebring as well as he holds the record of 5 overall wins in this big race. While Dindo Capello has won it four times outright.

#3 Audi R18 TDI has only got two drivers confirmed for now. 2010 Le Mans winners with Audi: Timo Bernhard and Romain Dumas. The two drivers aren't strangers to Sebring, they won overall in 2008 with a less powerful Porsche RS Spyder of team Penske Racing against the top cars from the LMP1 class. The third driver will be announced soon.

Audi has been chasing a win at Sebring for three years now. A three cars assault in Florida is the perfect way to do that, while anticipating the Toyota's debut at Spa-Francorchamps. The opposition will come from three privateers HPD cars, two Lola Coupes/Toyota from Rebellion Racing, and the French teams of Pescarolo Team and OAK Racing. The ACO are aiming to have more balanced races this year. We are expecting to see less powerful R18 TDIs at Sebring. However Audi is clearly the big favourite for race win.

The very experienced Audi Sport Team Joest will hunt for a tenth overall win for Ingolstadt. The race is set for March 17th. A new era for sports car racing with the debut of the FIA World Endurance Championship.